Frostproof Votes Approve 17 of 18 Charter Changes

By SUZIE SCHOTTELKOTTETHE LEDGER

Tuesday

Apr 6, 2010 at 11:08 PM

FROSTPROOF | Frostproof voters approved 17 of the 18 proposed changes to the city's charter in Tuesday's election.The only proposal rejected by voters was Amendment 18, which gave the city manager the authority to transfer funds among city departments.

By the slightest of margins, voters rejected that change by a vote of 78 to 81, or 49 percent in favor of the measure to 51 percent against it.

Voters approved most of the other proposed changes by wide margins, ranging from 66 percent to 91 percent in favor of the changes.

The changes in the charter will:

Eliminate runoff elections for City Council seats. The candidate with the most votes wins the seat. Change the way unexpired council terms are handled.

The council will appoint a replacement, who will serve until the next election.At that point, candidates will run to serve the remainder of the term.

Allow the vice mayor and a majority of council members to call a special meeting.